Bob Iger

Disney to Acquire Marvel Comic Book Empire for $4 Billion

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 31, 2009 - 7:19am.

Burbank, Calif. - Disney (NYSE: DIS) announced on Monday that it will acquire comic book empire Marvel Entertainment, which counts a portfolio of over 5,000 characters, including Spider-Man and the X-Men, in a stock and cash deal valued at $4 billion. "This transaction combines Marvels strong global brand and world-renowned library of characters including Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, Fantastic Four and Thor with Disney's creative skills, unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximizes the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories," said Disney president and CEO Robert A. Iger.

LA Times: Actors, Studios Close to Labor Contract Deal

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 6, 2009 - 9:02am.

Los Angeles - Following four weeks of private talks between Screen Actors Guild (SAG) interim executive David White and several top studio executives, including Disney (NYSE: DIS) CEO Bob Iger and News Corp. (NYSE: NWS) president Peter Chernin, the two sides are "very close" to resolving most of the sticking points holding up a labor contract deal, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing "people familiar with the situation."

Buzz Watch: Disney Gives Grim Outlook For The DVD Business

Authored by Paul Sweeting on February 4, 2009 - 9:04am.

Well that was a downer from Disney yesterday in its fiscal Q1 earnings call. The DVD business is tanking, nothing else is taking up the slack and we have to spend less money making movies. The "conversion rate" for new releases (i.e. the ratio of DVDs sold per million dollars of box-office gross) is falling, consumers are buying fewer catalog titles, shelf-space is disappearing and prices are plummeting. And oh, yeah: the rest of businesses pretty much suck right now, too. It sure didn't sound like the happiest place on earth.

Report: Disney to Merge Internet Group, Video Game Business

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 5, 2008 - 10:41am.

Los Angeles - Disney (NYSE: DIS) plans to merge its Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) online unit with its Disney Interactive Studios video game business to form a new unit to be called Disney Interactive Media Group, PaidContent reported, citing an internal memo from Disney CEO Bob Iger. The new unit is expected to be led by current WDIG president Steve Wadsworth.

CES: Disney’s CEO Bob Iger Puts Digital Efforts “On Steroids”

Authored by Jay Baage on January 9, 2007 - 7:01am.

Las Vegas - Bob Iger, Disney’s CEO, showed that Disney is thinking beyond selling content on iTunes by keynoting at CES in Las Vegas the day before Apple’s MacWorld Expo opens in San Francisco Tuesday. His vision for the next steps in Disney’s digital evolution include: MMOGs (massively multiplayer online games), virtual worlds and a redesigned website including the new online experience DXD.